Rejoicing in Your Inheritance - Protestant Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 1993 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

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"In this you greatly rejoice" (1 Pet. 1:6). Contemplating your eternal inheritance should give you joy that transcends any temporal circumstance.

Joy is a major theme in Scripture. The psalmist said, "Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright" (Ps. 33:1); "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee; and my soul, which Thou hast redeemed" (Ps. 71:23).

Even creation itself is said to rejoice in the Lord: "Thou dost make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. . . . Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exalt, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord. . . . Let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord; for He is coming to judge the earth" (Ps. 65:8; 96:11-13; 98:8-9).

Joy is the special privilege of every believer, regardless of his or her circumstances. You might suffer untold heartache and persecution for your faith in Christ, but amid the severest trials, God wants you to know profound joy. That's why Peter said, "To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation" (1 Pet. 4:13).

First Peter 1:6-9 identifies five elements of your Christian life that should bring you joy amid trials. The first is your protected inheritance. That's what Peter referred to when he said, "In this you greatly rejoice" (v. 6, emphasis added). Other elements include a proven faith, a promised honor, a personal fellowship, and a present deliverance (vv. 6-9), which we will explore in coming days.

The Greek word translated "greatly rejoice" in 1 Peter 1:6 is not the usual Greek word for "rejoice." Peter used a more expressive and intense word, which speaks of one who is happy in a profound spiritual sense rather than a temporal or circumstantial sense. That's the quality of joy God grants to those who trust in Him and look beyond their temporal trials to the glory of their eternal inheritance. Let that be your focus as well.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for the joy that transcends circumstances.

For Further Study

Read John 16:16-22.

According to Jesus, why would the disciples lament?

What would bring them joy?

What does their experience teach you about the basis for your joy as a Christian?

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

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Studying God’s Word ping

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Prayer For Inner Joy

Heavenly Father, I desire joy in the inner man, and Your Word warns us to be on our guard against all kinds of greed and covertness, knowing that life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions, but on our deepening relationship with You. And so I pray that I will be kept free from this toxic attitude of heart, which can too often steal our joy in the Lord and break our close communion with You.

Thank You that in Your presence is the fullness of joy, for You alone are my abiding hope and in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Keep me looking to Jesus and away from the enticements of this world, and may Your joy and peace flood my inner being, knowing that the joy of the Lord is my health and strength. In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-for-inner-joy-1620